Pakistan denies presence of Chinese troops in PoK

Islamabad: Pakistan on Thursday rejected as "baseless rumour-mongering" the reports about presence of Chinese troops in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and asserted that Kashmir was a long-standing item on the agenda of the UN.

"I will not comment on media reports. However, we totally reject baseless rumour-mongering about the presence of PLA (People's Liberation Army) troops" in PoK, Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said here at his weekly briefing.

Zakaria noted that China has also refuted these reports.

He said Kashmir was a long-standing item on the agenda of the UN and several UNSC resolutions accept the right of self-determination of the people of Kashmir.

Media reports recently said that Chinese troops entered almost 6 km inside the Indian territory near the scenic Pangong lake area in Ladakh sector.

The incident had occurred on March 8 when a platoon of at least 11 PLA men led by a Colonel-rank officer crossed over the imaginary Line of Actual Control (LAC) close to the Pangong lake, the reports had said.

On the issue of travel permission to Pakistani officials for World T20 match between the two countries, Zakaria said Pakistan was disappointed over India's decision to bar Pakistani diplomats from travelling to Kolkata.

"On this issue, we conveyed our disappointment to the Indian Deputy High Commissioner. I don't know the exact status at this moment whether permission has been granted as yet. However, I think the issue will be resolved soon," he said.